speech labels & "as" & commas

Which version is in the book?

Depends on context and intent.

If Ron said it at the same time as he was walking back I would go for 1.

If the walking back was the reason for saying it and the 'as' is used as 'because', I would go for 2.

Either way, it's clear he said it 'while'... and I wouldn't lose sleep over it.

But I may be way off beam - see what the experts have to say.

It depends upon intent. It's nothing to do with 'speech label rules' -whatever they are.

I have to go out now, but read Strunk & White re commas before independent clauses, including the use of 'as' etc., it's section 4 in my copy.

Wordcraft said:

OK, so which one is right - and why?

1. 'Wonder where she's got to?' Ron said as he and Harry went back to Gryffindor Tower.

2. 'Wonder where she's got to?' Ron said, as he and Harry went back to Gryffindor Tower.

Click to expand...

I read through some of the AW link mentioned below in this thread, and I'm still on the fence about the comma before "as." Or rather, I'm unsure of the rule behind it. I think at one point I pinpointed it down to the whole restrictive or nonrestrictive element thingiemabob. Or, in other words, is the "as" clause essential to the meaning of the sentence? If so, no comma. If not, comma.

Jodi

I would say Number 1, definitely.

How about avoiding the problem altogether:

"...Ron asked Harry on the way back to Gryffindor Tower."

Brian January
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